Home
Back
Pressure Formula:
| From: | To: |
Pressure is defined as the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. It is a fundamental concept in physics and engineering, particularly in understanding how objects interact with surfaces they contact.
The calculator uses the pressure formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula shows that pressure increases with greater force and decreases with larger contact area. This explains why sharp objects penetrate surfaces more easily - they concentrate force on a smaller area.
Details: Calculating pressure exerted on the ground is crucial in various fields including construction (determining foundation requirements), sports (studying athletic shoe design), and engineering (designing vehicles and heavy machinery).
Tips: Enter force in Newtons and area in square meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the pressure in Pascals (Pa).
Q1: What is the SI unit of pressure?
A: The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal (Pa), which is equal to one Newton per square meter (N/m²).
Q2: How does surface area affect pressure?
A: Pressure is inversely proportional to surface area. For the same force, a smaller contact area results in higher pressure.
Q3: What are some common pressure units besides Pascals?
A: Other common units include psi (pounds per square inch), bar, atmosphere (atm), and mmHg (millimeters of mercury).
Q4: Why is pressure calculation important in everyday life?
A: Understanding pressure helps explain phenomena like why snowshoes prevent sinking in snow, why sharp knives cut better, and how tires maintain contact with the road.
Q5: How is ground pressure measured in real-world applications?
A: In engineering, ground pressure is often measured using pressure plates or sensors to ensure structures and vehicles don't exceed the bearing capacity of the soil.